"Sir... Um, In there" Lavanya said snapping Arnav out of his trance

Arnav looked up at her and she nodded

"Please be careful... She might react... Badly" Lavanya warned

But she didn't, Arnav stood at the entrance of the room she was in, It was dark, And she wasn't affected in the slightest bit

"Khushi" He called softly

She didn't react, It was as if she wasn't listening, Arnav walked upto her and crouched beside her taking her hands into his "Shona... Look at me" Arnav said softly

Khushi didn't move, Her hands still in Arnav's

"Khushi please look at me baby, I'm here, Please talk to me... Please shona" Arnav pleaded with her

A lone tear escaped her eye. Arnav wiped her tear away "I'm here Khushi... Don't cry" Arnav said and hugged her tightly. For a few seconds, Khushi didn't register anything, When she did... Her body began shaking badly "Don't touch me... Go away... Don't... Leave me" She screamed struggling in his arms, Arnav tightened his hold on her as she struggled

"Calm down Khushi... Don't be scared, I'm here baby... Your Arnav is here. Don't be afraid baby" Arnav consoled

She shook harder than ever in Arnav's Arms struggling to get away

"Khushi... Please baby, Stop struggling, Please trust me Khushi, Please" Arnav said struggling to hold her without hurting her

She stopped moving suddenly and stilled, Arnav sighed relieved

"Arnav" She sobbed

"Khushi... I'm here, Mein huin yahaan pe, Mein huin (I'm right here... I'm here) " Arnav said softly consoling her

"I'm scared Arnav... Mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai(I'm very scared)" Khushi sob-whispered

"Don't be... Don't be scared Baby, I won't let anyone get you, You're safe" Arnav assured her and hugged her tightly. Khushi hugged him back, Attempting to hide in his embrace

"Please... Kahin mat jaana Arnav, Please mujhe akela mat chodna!! Woh log... Arnav, Woh log fir aa jayenge! Please... Mujhe chodke mat jaana (Please don't leave me alone Arnav... Please don't leave me, They'll all come back again Arnav, Please)" Khushi pleaded

"No Baby... I won't go anywhere, Trust me shona... Please don't get scared" Arnav attempted to sooth her

Arnav picked her up in his arms and carried her home

He didn't sleep that night, He couldn't... He couldn't see her in such a state, His Khushi, Who was ever positive... Ever loving... Ever strong was scared out of her wits today, And it broke him... Broke him to bits

"You weren't a pain Khushi Arnav Singh Raizada" Arnav said

"You aren't a pain Arnav, What are you saying?" Khushi asked

"I mean... You can't be this patient, Why did you not snap at me? Why the hell did you not give me your piece of mind, You were alone Khushi... I had left you all alone!!" Arnav exclaimed

"That's where you're wrong Arnav... That's what didn't happen! YOU didn't leave me alone, You were practically the only one who was... Who was talking to me! From the day of our marriage, Till now... It was only you, You hadn't left me alone" Khushi said

"No" Arnav whispered

"Yes Arnav, You were never the reason of my breakdowns... You will never be the reason for that, You're... On the contrary the reason I didn't fall apart for so long, You held me together, Though not completely... I'd agree... But at least I had you to talk to. Or I know for a fact that it would've kicked in much before it did!!" Khushi explained

"Di? Nani? Mamiji? Nk?... No one?" Arnav asked

"Nk? Maybe... Yes I did have him sometimes... But he's not really great at sneaking inside this room without Mamiji or Anjali Di noticing, And they'd Call him back downstairs... I was, They were a little skeptical about this whole sudden marriage thing, And me of course" Khushi said

"And I never answered your questions" Arnav supplied

"Figured out I'd have to be the silent partner for now... It was difficult you know... Spectacular how you managed pretty well" Khushi said

Arnav smiled

If that night was difficult, The days following the night were unmanageable, Arjun had insisted on taking her back to London, Though Arnav wanted to come with them, But he had first to wind up everything in India, Arjun understood... And told him that it was okay. He will of course join them when everything was okay.

Her body turned statue like the moment Arnav withdrew his hands from her waist, Arnav didn't want to leave her side at all, But Arjun gave him an assuring nod, Arnav half-heartedly left his Khushi with Arjun though his heart and soul never even once left her

When she reached London, It was as if Khushi had left a big chunk of herself back home. Arjun and Ashima were successful in making her eat, Making her sleep... Calming her down when she was hysteric or scared, But her voice... Her chirpiness, Was lost. Khushi was lost!!!

TWO WEEKS LATER

Arjun was working with Ashima on an Apple Pie they were making for Khushi when Arjun's phone buzzed

"Arnav"

He picked it up

"Yeah Arnav... How are you?" Arjun asked

"How's she" Was what Arnav asked

"How's your work going Arnav?" Arjun asked

(Did he just change the topic?)

"Everything is Fine Arjun... How's she?" Arnav asked again

"She... She's- She's not fine, She hasn't spoken a word since we've come to London... She's lost Arnav, I don't know what I should do!" Arjun cried

"Arjun... She'll be fine, I'm coming... I'm just coming" Arnav said

"No... But Arnav... Don't worry-"

"Arjun... I can't concentrate, I can't stay away from her... I haven't seen her for Weeks... She left just a day later... I wanna see her, I wanna make sure she's fine, I wanna be there, I'm coming and that's what is happening" Arnav declared

TWO DAYS LATER

"Where's she?" Arnav asked breathless. He had landed at the Airport 20 minutes ago, There wasn't a debate that Diwan Mansion was indeed the first place he'd visit. He drove straight to DM and dashed into the house

"Arnav... Give it a rest, Will you have water?" Arjun asked

"Where's she Arjun? I need to see her" Arnav insisted

"Upstairs... In her room" Arjun said

Arnav nodded and ran upstairs

Arnav saw her sitting against the window, Staring into nothingness. Arnav sighed went to her and crouched next to her

"Khushi..." He said softly

A few tears fell from her eyes

"Khushi... Why are you crying baby?" Arnav said cupping her cheeks panicked

Khushi hugged him tightly sobbing into his chest

"You broke your promise, You went away... You went away!" Khushi cried

"No baby... I'm here, Yaheen huin mein, Kaheen nahi jaa raha(I'm right here... I'm not going anywhere)" He consoled her

"Aap chale jaoge! Mujhe chodkar, Aap fir se chale jaoge Arnav! (You'll leave again! You'll leave me alone and Go Arnav!)" Khushi cried

"Nahi jauinga... Kahin nahi jauinga... (I won't... I won't go anywhere) Promise! I promise baby... I won't go anywhere, I will never leave you alone" Arnav said to her

"I tried Arnav... I tried my best, But I failed... I failed to protect myself, I swear I tried Arnav, They were very strong, I couldn't push them away, They were many" She sobbed shaking hard

"I know Khushi... I know you tried you're a strong girl shona, I know you're very strong girl. It's not your fault baby" Arnav said caressing her hair

"Then, Why did you leave me alone? You promised you won't leave me Alone... You promised Arnav, But..." Khushi cried

And realization dawned upon Arnav, She was scared of his absence, She thought he'd not return to her, She thinks it's her fault?

"Khushi... Baby I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Baby, I shouldn't have stayed back, You needed me! I'm so sorry! But I'm not going anywhere baby... Please trust me, I'm not leaving you alone ever again!" Arnav said consoling her

Khushi kept hugging him tightly, As if the moment she lets go of him, He'll disappear. Arnav kept holding her caressing her hair.

Soon Khushi slept leaning against Arnav still clutching him. Arnav carried her to the bed and made her lie down, Himself he settled next to her stroking her hair in a soothing manner.